The 2026 homestay scheme in short
In February 2026 Rajasthan's Tourism Department brought in the Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026, replacing the 2012 paying guest house scheme (Business Standard, February 2026).
| Rule | Under the 2026 scheme |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 8 lettable rooms and 24 beds, up from 5 rooms and 15 beds |
| Who runs it | The owner, a lessee, or a caretaker who lives on site; the owner no longer has to live there |
| Where | A fully residential building |
| Rooms | Attached bathroom, water, electricity, ventilation and fire safety in each room let to guests |
| Registration | Single window with fewer documents, through local Tourism Department offices; rural owners can also use Tourist Reception Centres |
| Records | A guest register kept for at least seven years, and foreign guests reported to the authorities |
Rajasthan's separate guest house category covers 6 to 20 rooms and up to 40 beds (Udaipur Times, February 2026). Fees and categories are set in the scheme notification; check the current figures with Rajasthan Tourism before you apply.
When guests come
| Period | What usually happens | Worth setting up in InnRow |
|---|---|---|
| October to March | Main season; foreign guests from Europe, weddings and long weekends | A season rate and a minimum stay for the peak weeks |
| Pushkar fair (October or November) | Pushkar and nearby villages fill weeks ahead | A festival season on those dates |
| Christmas to New Year | Jaipur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer full; desert camps at their busiest | Holds that release after 24 hours if the advance doesn't arrive |
| April to June | Heat keeps most travellers away, except Mount Abu | A lower season rate |
| Monsoon | Udaipur's lakes draw domestic weekenders | Weekend pricing |
What Rajasthan hosts use InnRow for
- Form C for foreign guests. Many Rajasthan homestays host more foreign than Indian guests. The Form C helper lays out every detail the FRRO portal asks for with a copy button, and counts down the 24 hours.
- The register the scheme asks for. Every arrival goes into a digital guest register with ID photos, printable or as CSV, for as many years as you need.
- A caretaker who runs the desk. Now that the owner needn't live on site, a caretaker can check guests in and collect payments in the front desk role while the owner sees the money from anywhere.
- Haveli rooms and the whole house. Let the whole haveli to a wedding party or room by room; booking one closes the other.
- Bookings from your own page. Guests who find you on Google Maps can book from your booking page instead of through a booking site.
Rajasthan questions
How many rooms can a homestay have in Rajasthan?
Up to 8 lettable rooms and 24 beds under the Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026, up from 5 rooms under the 2012 scheme.
Does the owner have to live in a Rajasthan homestay?
Not any more. Under the 2026 scheme a homestay can be run by the owner, a lessee or a caretaker who lives on site.
Which InnRow plan fits an 8-room homestay?
The Hotel plan, for up to 25 rooms, at ₹1,999 a month. Up to 6 rooms fit the Homestay plan at ₹999.